Two Parker women who said in October they were victims of hate crimes because they are lesbians are now facing charges of false reporting and criminal mischief, the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office said Thursday.

Aimee Whitchurch, 37, and Christel Conklin, 29, had been in a spat with neighbors and their homeowners association over their dogs before they accused unnamed neighbors of spray-painting “Kill the Gay” on their garage door and hanging a noose on their front door on Lark Water Lane.

The FBI and Douglas County sheriff’s investigators said Thursday they had determined Whitchurch and Conklin were responsible for the paint and the noose.

Joey Bunch was a reporter for 12 years at The Denver Post before leaving to join The Gazette in Colorado Springs. For various newspapers he has covered the environment, water issues, politics, civil rights, sports and the casino industry. He likes stories more than reports.

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